Hi Carolyn!
I am just building a growing area for my orchids in plexiglass. Here is a pictue
This is my "planning":
--decide on size?
I decided were in my apartment I whanted my orchidarium and built it as large as I could afford, both size and cost. In my case 120 cm high 125 cm wide and 60 cm deep. Plant comes fast and the get bigger not smaller with time
. Therefore I did build bigger than I now think I need.
--create an accessible front door?
I made the front door in one piece (8 mm thick) and used acrylic hinges at the bottom. The orchidarium is located on a cupbourd so the door stay clear from the floor.
--build a hood/light on top? Is it supported by the plexi or did you hang it another way?
I made the side extra thick (10 mm) to support the weight of the top. The back supports rigidly and even the top and bottom of the front. I made the lightcabinet in medium density fiber board (MDF) and it is quite heavy.
--use grates from light fixtures for your base?
have not come so far jet. Bit I have built a background in epiweb an teak-wood. The background is not finished in this picture.
/Magnus